Jamie Roberts called the current incarnation of South Africa “the best rugby team to have ever played the game” after their seven-try demolition of Wales capped an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series.The back-to-back world champions scored four tries without reply inside 35 minutes, and despite Rio Dyer and James Botham crossing for Wales, the Springboks ended their calendar year with a merciless 45-12 victory.
It marked the first time since 2013 that South Africa had completed a clean sweep of wins on their tour in the northern hemisphere.
And though the mid-2010s New Zealand side would take some stopping, Roberts believes that the this Springboks match, or even eclipse the All Blacks of the previous decade.
“I think it’s probably the best rugby team to have ever played the game,” Roberts said. “We talk about the All Blacks side of 2011-2015. This Springboks side is as good, if not better.
“The quality of player, the depth they create, the brand of rugby they’re playing, they will continue to dominate in the next couple of years and they’ll be in the conversation come the next Rugby World Cup, no doubt.”
Fellow TNT Sports expert Sam Warburton wholeheartedly agreed, arguing that Rassie Erasmus’ side had no weaknesses whatsoever.
“I was actually thinking then, if you’re a coach hypothetically and you’re like, ‘Right, South African weakness, let’s go for it.’ I genuinely can’t think of one. What do they not do?” Warburton said.
“In the 2019 World Cup, yes, they did have a restricted game plan. It worked well, it was physical and teams knew what was coming, but they still couldn’t stop it.
“They evolved again in 2023. Even in the last 12 months, I think they’ve got even more expansive. They’ve evolved again.
“So they’re not just this powerhouse team. Their tries in the first half, getting the ball into space and that recognition of space and just getting it there, not just route-one all the time.
“They have got everything. I think we are looking at one of the greatest teams of all time.”
Even before the match had started, Warburton was singing the praises of the Springboks, saying that even Welsh supporters would never forget the time they saw the “iconic” back-to-back world champions in the flesh.
“It’s amazing. I mean, there are going to be people in this stadium today who, in 20 years’ time, are going to be like, ‘I saw Cheslin Kolbe play live, I’ve seen Eben Etzebeth, I’ve seen Siya Kolisi.’
“We were watching the South Africa warm-up, just watching the boys running around, because it’s an iconic group. It’s a really iconic group that will be remembered forever.
“It’s one of the greatest rugby teams we’ve ever seen and everyone’s got the pleasure of watching them today.”
TNT Sports presenter Craig Doyle summed up the tourists’ current world dominance in the sport with aplomb.
“There is only one team in the world who can beat this South Africa team, and that’s the South African second team,” quipped Doyle.
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